Wal-Mart's snooping case exposes debate over corporate intelligence.

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart's disclosure that an employee was tapping phone conversations and text messages is drawing attention to a growth industry within corporate America -- the business of keeping things secret.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. fired the employee, Bruce Gabbard, maintaining he acted alone and didn't receive authorization to eavesdrop. Federal authorities are investigating.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Gabbard said he worked in an amply staffed unit whose mission was to shore up the walls around Wal-Mart's internal data and communications, protecting them not just from Internet hackers but from leaks to company critics. He declined further comment when contacted this week by The Associated Press.

. . .

The growth of the corporate intelligence business is no secret. Last month, Cofer Black, vice chairman of the security company Blackwater USA and a former CIA counterterrorism expert, announced he had formed a new company called Total Intelligence Solutions, which focuses on providing intelligence gathering to companies. Its services will include rooting out insiders who are causing harm.

Read more: http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070319/Biz02/703190405/-1/BIZ/CAT=Biz02

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Sooo much in this article. Walmart may have an upper management spying problem; Firms who spy on workers are increasing four fold; Global spying a huge business. Well worth a click through.

Its services will include rooting out insiders who are causing harm.

This translates to "employees reporting illegal activities"

how else do they get away with most of the things they do.